Refrigeration system including an internal-combustion engine and control means therefor



Fab. 3, 1948. P, E, CARY 2,435,493

REFRIGERATION sYs'rEu INCLUDING AN INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINE AND coN'rnoL MEANS THEnEFon Filed Nov. 29,

lll/l HIL Patented Feb. 3, 1948 I I REFRIGERATION SYSTEM INCLUDING AN INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINE AND CONTROL MEANS THEREFOR Philip E. Cary, Perryville, Md., assignor to International Harvester Company, a corporation of New Jersey Application November 29, 1943, Serial No. 512,085

18 Glaims. (Cl. 62-4) 1 2 The present invention relates generally to re- Figure 1 is a schematic or-diagrammatlc View frigerating apparatus. More particularly, the of a refrigeration apparatus of a type in which invention relates to that type of refrigerating the invention may be embodied; apparatus which is designed for use in cooling Figure 2 is a side elevational view of an engine, air in an enclosed space, such as a compartment, showing the control mechanism of the invention a- TaWay ar 0r a truck bOdy. Apparatus of and diagrammatically a. portion of the refrigerthis type includes a compressor, a condenser, an ated compartment; and evaporating coll, and a power plant for driving Figure 3 shows a modification of a snap action the compressor. In the present invention, the controlling mechanism for the engine.

DOWer plant is an internal-combustion engine, and A conventional refrigerating apparatus is indithe invention relates particularly to means for cated in Figure 1. An air-cooled engine lois 111115- controlling the operation of the engine. trated in outline as having a crank-shaft Il on In refrigerating apparatus of the engine-driven which two centrifugally actuated clutch shoes I2 type, it is customary to employ a governor for are pivotally connected for engaging a clutch limiting or holding the engine to a fixed or predel5 drum I3. Said clutch drum, which is freely rotermined maximum speed. It has also been custatable on the crank-shaft II` carries a V-groove tomary to employ a thermostat for controlling pulley I4 for driving a V-belt I5, Said belt enthe operation of the engine so that when the temgages a drive pullev I6 on the crankshaft Il of perature of the space to be cooled rises to a prea compressor I8. 'I'he discharge from said comdetermined point, the amount of refrigeration presser passes through a condenser I9 to an exsupplled is increased, and when the temperature pansion valve 2D. which supplies the compressed drops to a predetermined point, the amount cf rerefrigerant to an expansion coil 2|. From said frigeration supplied is decreased. It has been expansion coil. the reirigerating gas is drawn found that a governor in itself is not satisfactory back into the compressor. Figure l shows merely for this purpose, as a compressor requires sub- 26 a representative gas-engine-driven type of restantially the same operating torque at high and frigerating apparatus diagrammatically to better low speeds andas an internal-combustion engine illustrate the invention which resides in a condoes not have suiiicient torque at idling speeds to` trolling mechanism for yan internal combustion tum over the compressor, it has, therefore. been engine, In Figure 2, which shows a cylinder 22 found necessary to provide means, additional to of the engine I0 in greater detail. an exhaust cona governor control, for regulating an engineduit 23 and an inlet conduit 2| are shown condriven compressor for refrigerating apparatus. nected to the side of the engine. The inlet con- An object of the invention is to provide in a duit 2li is connected by a ange 25 with a flange refrigerating apparatus of the type under consid- 26 of a conventional carburetor 21. Seid careration, an engine control device operable by the buretor is provided with a throttle shaft 28 and a temperature in the space to be refrigerated. throttle 29, which is shown in dotted lines as being A more speeic object is to provide a device positioned in the throat in a mixture passage 30 for modifying the action of a governor operable of a carburetor. An actuating arm 3| on the along with a centrifugal clutch to regulate the Athrottle shaft 28 is connected by an actuating link speed and drive of the engine with relation to the 32` with a governor` control arm 33. Said arm is amount of refrigeration required. pivotally mounted on a` governor housing 34 and Another specflcobject is to provide an engine is connected by conventional means, not shown, manifold depression type of control to provide to the governor mechanism' which is in turn conactuating power for the governor control and to nected to the engine to be operated thereby inf-the modify said control by a temperature actuating usual manner, as by mechanism shown andv deelement. scribed. for example. inthe United States patent Other objects of the invention and variousl adto L. C. Freeman No. 1,162,043 dated November vantages and characteristics of the present con- 30, 1915.

trol for a refrigerating apparatus will become The governor arm 33 is also connected interapparent from a consideration of the following mediate its ends with a link 35, which is adiustdetailed description. The invention consists of ably connected to a connecting member 36 seseveral novel features and modifications which cured to a diphragm 31. Said diaphragm forms are hereinafter set forth. a part of a control device 38, which includes, in In the drawings which accompany and form a addition to the diaphragm, an inner housing part of this disclosure: f member 39 and an outer housing member 40 cured to a supporting means 4I for holding the` device in position. An aperture 42 in said member permits free passage and movement of the member 36. The outer housing member 46 is secured toa tting 43, which is formed with a conduit 44 communicating with the interior of the housing member. The tting 43 further includes a passage or conduit 45 normal to and in communication with the conduit 44. The conduit 45 is open at both ends of the tting 43 and is connected to a conduit 46 at one end and to a conduit 41at the other end.

The conduit 46 is connected with a tting 48 in which a restricted bleed opening 49 is formed. Beyond said bleed opening a conduit 50 connects the fitting-with the inlet conduit 24, as shown by the broken away section of said conduit.

The conduit 41 is connected to a housing 5l which contains a control element, as will be hereinafter described. An air inlet conduit 52 connected to the air inlet of the carburetor 21 communicates with an air cleaner 53. A conduit 54 connected to said air inlet, as shown by the broken away section of Figure 2, communicates with the housing I.

A portion of a refrigerating cabinet or chamber to be cooled is illustrated by an insulated horizontal wall 55 and a vertical wall 56. Expan sion coils 51 are illustrated which correspond to the evaporator 2| shown in the diagram of Figure 1.' A heat responsive element 58is illustrated located in the compartment to be refrigerated at a point suitable for obtaining the proper regulation of temperature in said cham- Said element, which is of the conventional type containing expansible and contractble fluid, is connected by a conduit 53 with a bellows-like element 66 in the housing 5l. Said bellows expands with the increase of temperature in the refrigerated chamber and contracts with the lowering of the temperature in said chamber. A re1- atively thick jacket 6| is shown around the element 58. This jacket may be formed of material having a relatively high specic heat value or a relatively low conducting value, whereby there will be a lag in the transfer of vheat to and from the element 58 thereby giving a delayed action in the response of said element to the temperature change in the refrigerated compartment. i

The element 60 is connected to a stem 62 on a valve 63, which is positioned to engage a seat 64 surrounding an opening 65 formed in a partition 6E which separates the housing 5I into a compartment 61 and a compartment 68. conduit 41 communicates with the compartment S1. The conduit 54 communicates with the compartment 68. f

The element 60 also carries for movement therewith a member 69 which is provided with a pair of spaced notches 1D engageable by the bent up end of a light leaf spring 1I rigidly secured at one end to the housing 5I. l

In the operation of the control device above this type, it is necessary to have an excess refrigerating capacity tol take care of extreme conditions of temperature or large stocks of warm materials stored in the refrigerated compartment. When the compartment rea/ches the desired low temperature, the apparatus will continue to run at full capacity for a short time due to the time lag of the jacket 6I around the control element 58. 60 begins to contract, thereby closing the valve 63.

In the operation of the engine at rated load and speed, the governor 34 will regulate the throttle valve to maintain the desired speed of the engine. A depression will exist in the conduit'24 dependent upon the load on the engine, whichv in a system of this type will be substantially uniform. Air will be drawn through the conduits 50, 46, and 41, the opening 65, and the conduit 54 from1 the inlet air conduit 52. As this air has already passed through the air cleaner and as the volume is very small, it has no adverse eilect on the operation of the engine. The bleed opening 49 in the tting 48 restricts this air flow toa very small volume and reduces the possible lowering of pressure in the compartment 68 of the housing 5l so as to not iniluence the action of the bellows unit 60. The same control prevents a reduction in pressure suiliclent to aiect the diaphragm 31 in the pressure-responsive device 38.

As the valve 63 is closed in the manner above described by a reduction in the temperature of the refrigerated chamber, the restriction caused by said valve approachingits seat 64 is greater than the restriction of the bleed opening 49. A pressure reduction then takes .place in the connecting conduits, thereby simultaneously lowering pressure in the chamber formed between the diaphragm 31 andthe housingv cover 40. The diaphragm and the elements carried thereby including the link 35 then move to the left, as l shown in Figure 2, modifying the governor action by closing the throttle 29 in the throat of the carburetor. This action slows down the engine and reduces the speed of the compressor thereby reducing the amount of refrigeration'supplied to the evaporator. As the contraction of the unit 60 continues, the valve 63 is completely closed. Pressure adjacent the diaphragm `31 is then reduced to the pressure in the inlet manifold 24. This provides suflicient force to overcome the governor action and completely close the throttle valve 29 to idle operation of 4the engine.

As the engine drops to idle position, the centrifugal clutch shoes I2 disengage, stopping the supply of power to the compressor which remains inoperative so long as the engine is idling.

When the temperature of the refrigerated compartment rises, an action substantially reverse to that above described takes place. 'I'he valve 63 is opened, permitting the ilow of,k air through the conduit 54, the opening 65, the conduit 41, and the conduit 46. The bleed opening 43 then forms a regulating orice, because of which the pressure in the conduits up to thatk As said element is cooled, the bellows unit ing the valve 83 against movement until sulcient temperature change has taken place in the refrigerated chamber to provide a relatively rapid closing of the valve. The notches 1U, which are engaged by the bent up end of the spring 1 I, give a certain restraining force to hold the valve until a substantial endwise force is available. The same action takes place in the reverse direction. This control is optional but may be used to provide a better actuation of the centrifugal clutch without substantial wear by providing a relatively rapid change in engine speed.

Figure 3 shows a modication in which corresponding parts bear the same numerals. In this construction the member 36, which is connected to the diaphragm 31, is joined to the governor arm 33 by a member 12 which is slotted at 13 to slide over a connecting pin 14 mounted on the governor arm. A link 15 pivoted on a bracket 16 secured to the bracket 4 I, is provided with a slotted upper end 11 which engages a pin 18 on the member 12. The other end of the link 15 carries a small roller 19 which operates on a leaf spring 80 secured to a supporting bracket 8l. Said spring is provided with a hump 82 engageable by the roller 19 as the diaphragm 31 moves in either direction to open or close the throttle of the carburetor. It will be understood that this hump or cam portion of the spring 80 may be shaped to provide the desired modifying control of the governor by the diaphragm 31. In some installations, it is desirable to slow down the operation of the engine but to continue driving the compressor at a reduced speed to maintain a lower rate of supplying refrigeration. In this case, the cam 82 would be spaced from the normal full-load operating position ol the roller 19. Whenever sulcient force is available on the diaphragm 31 dueto depression in the mixture inlet conduit from the carburetor, the roller 19 rides over the cam portion 82, after which the spring action assists in further closing the throttle. It is not desired that this invention be limited to the exact details of construction shown and described. for obvious modifications will occur to those skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:

1. Control means for a refrgerationapparatus including a compressor, a cooling chamber, an evaporator in the cooling chamber, an internal combustion engine and drive means for connecting the engine to the compressor including an automatic centrifugal clutch operable to engage the drive mechanism when the engine attains a predetermined speed, said engine having a carburetor and a throttle valve therefor, a mixture intake conduit and a speed controlling governor connected to said throttle valve, comprising: a fluid-pressure-responslve device connected to the governor and communicating with the intake conduit and operable upon the application of intake conduit pressure thereto to overcome the governor and close the throttle valve, a temperature-responsive device positioned in the cooling -chamber, and means operable by said temperature-responsive device to control the application of pressure in the intake conduit to the pressureresponsive device.

2. Control means for a refrigeration apparatus including a compressor, a cooling chamber, an evaporator in the cooling chamber, an internal combustion engine and drive means for connecting the engine to the compressor including an automatic centrifugal clutch operable to engage and disengage the drive mechanism at predetermined speeds of the engine, said engine having a,

carburetor, a mixture intake conduit and a speed controlling governor, comprising: a fluid-pressure-responsive device connected to the governor and communicating with the intake conduit, a temperature-responsive device positioned in the cooling chamber, and means operable upon actuation by said temperature-responsive device to regulate the application of pressure in the intake conduit to the pressure-responsive device.

3. A control means for a refrigeration apparatus including a cooling chamber, an evaporator t in the cooling chamber, a compressor, an internal combustion engine and drive connections between the engine and the compressor including arrantomatically operable centrifugal clutch, said engine having a carburetor and mixture intake conduit and a speed controlling governor, comprising: a iiuid-pressure-responsive device connected to the governor, a fluid conduit communicating with the intake conduit and with said device, a second iiuid conduit in communication with the pressure-responsive device at one end and open to substantial atmospheric pressure at the other end, flow control means in saidsecond conduit, a temperature-responsive device positioned in the cooling chamber, actuating means operatively connecting said temperature-responsive device to said ow control means for regulating the action on the pressure-responsive device by the pressure in the intake manifold, and resilient detent means engageable with said actuating means to delay the operation thereof until a predetermined force is available whereby a faster action is obtained by the pressure-responsive device and whereby a more rapid change is accomplished in the governor action with a subsequent faster operation of the centrifugal clutch.

4. A control means for a refrigeration apparatus including a compressor, a cooling chamber, an evaporator in the cooling chamber and a gas engine drive for the compressor, said engine having a carburetor and mixture intake conduit and a speed-controlling means, comprising a-lluidpressure-responsive device connected to said speed-controlling means -and communicating with the intake conduit, a temperature-responsive device positioned in the cooling chamber, and means operable upon actuation by said temperature-responsive device to regulate the application of pressure in the intake conduit to the pressureresponsive device.

5. A control 'means for a refrigeration apparatus including a compressor, a cooling chamber, an evaporator in the cooling chamber and a gas engine drive for the compressor, said engine having a carburetor and mixture intake conduit and a speed-controlling means, comprising a uidpressure-responsive device connected to said speed-controlling means and a, fluid-pressuretransmitting conduit communicating with said device and with the intake conduit, flow-restricting means in said fluid-pressure-transmitting conduit, a temperature-responsive device positioned in the cooling chamber, and means operable upon actuation by said temperature-responsive device to regulate the flow of pressure through said now-restricting means and to thereby regulate the application of pressure in the uid-pressure-transmitting conduit to the pressure-responsive device.

. 6. For a refrigeration apparatus including a compressor, a cooling chamber, an evaporator in the cooling chamber and a gas engine drive for the compressor, said engine having a carburetor and mixture intake conduit and a speed-controlling governor, a control means comprising a uuid-pressure-responsive device connected to the governor and communicating with the intake conduit, a temperature-responsive device positioned in the cooling chamber, and means operable upon actuation by said temperature-responsive device to regulate the application of pressure in the intake conduit to the pressureresponsive device.

7. For a refrigeration apparatus including a compressor, a cooling chamber, an evaporator in the cooling chamber and a gas engine drive for the compressor, said engine having a carburetor and mixture intake conduit and a speed-controlling governor, a control means comprising a. iluid-pressure-responsive device connected to the governor and a iiuid-pressure-transmitting conduit communicating with said device and with the intake conduit, a valve in said fluid-pressuretransmitting conduit, a temperature-responsive device positioned in the cooling chamber, and means operable upon actuation by said temperature-responsive device to regulate the position of said valve and to thereby regulate the application of pressure in the intake conduit to the pressure-responsive device. 1 8. For a refrigeration apparatus including compressor, a cooling chamber, an evaporator in the cooling chamber and a gas engine drive for thecompressor, said engine having a carburetor Vand mixture intake conduit and a speed-controlling governor, a control means comprising a fluid-pressure-responsive device connected to the governor and communicating with the mixture intake conduit, a conduit in communication with the pressure-responsive device and open to substantially atmospheric pressure, ow control means for said conduit, a temperature-responsive device positioned in the cooling chamber, and means operatively connecting said temperatureresponsive device to said now-control means for regulating the action on the pressure-responsive device by the pressure in the intake conduit.

9. For a refrigeration apparatus including a compressor, a cooling chamber, an evaporator in the cooling chamber and a gas'engine drive for the compressor, said engine having a carburetor and mixture intake conduit and a speed-controlling governor, a control means comprising a iiuid-pressure-responsive deviceconnected to the governor and communicating with the mixture intake conduit, a fluid conduit in communication with the pressure-responsive device and open to substantially atmospheric pressure, flow-control means for said uid conduit, a temperatureresponsive device positioned in the cooling chamber, actuating means operatively associating said temperature-responsive device with said flow-control means for regulating the action on the pressure-responsive device by the pressure in the intake conduit, and resilient means to delay the operation of the fluid-pressure-responsive device until a predetermined force is available. 10. For a refrigeration apparatus including a compressor, a cooling chamber, an evaporator in the cooling chamber and a gas engine drive for the compressor, said engine having a carburetor and mixture intake conduit and a speed-controlling governor, a control means comprising a .uid-pressure responsive device connected to the governor and communicating with the mixture intake conduit, a conduit in communication with the pressure-responsive device and open to substantially atmospheric pressure, a control valve in said last named conduit, and a temperatureresponsive device positioned in the cooling chamber and connected to said valve for regulating the action on the pressure-responsive device by the compressor, said engine having a carburetor and mixture intake conduit and a speed-controlling governor, a control means comprising a fluid-pressure-responsive device connected to the governor, a uid-pressure-conducting conduit connecting said device with the mixture intake conduit, said fluid-pressure-conductng conduit being provided with a metered orice for restricting air flow therethrough, a fluid conduit in communication with the pressure-responsive device and open to substantially atmospheric pressure, a control valve in said last named conduit, and a temperature-responsive device positionedin the cooling chamber and operatively connected to said valve for regulating the action on the pressure-responsive device by the pressure in the intake conduit.

12. Fora refrigeration apparatus including a compressor, a cooling chamber, an evaporator in the cooling chamber and a gasengine drive'for n the compressor, said engine having a carburetor and mixture intake conduit and a speed-controlling governor, a control means comprising a fluid conduit communicating at one end with the mixture intake conduit and being open to substantially atmospheric pressure at its other end, a luid-pressure-responsive device communi- 'cating with said fluid conduit and connected with the governor for modifying the action thereof, a. metering orifice in said uid conduit between the mixtureintake conduit and said device, a control valve in said fluid conduit, and a temperature-responsive device positioned in the cooling chamber, said temperature-responsive device being operatively connected to said valve for regulating the action on the governor by the pressure-responsive device.

13. For a refrigeration apparatus including a compressor, a cooling chamber, an evaporator in the cooling chamber and a gas engine drive for the compressor, said engine'having a carburetor and mixture intake conduit and a speed-controlling governor, a control means comprising a fluid conduit communicating at one end with the mixture intake' conduit and being open to substantially atmospheric pressure at its other end, a metering orifice in said fluid conduit, a iiuidpressure-responsive device communicating with said fluid conduit and connected with the governor for modifying the action thereof, a control valve in said fluid conduit, resilient'means in engagement with said valve for holding the same in one position until a predetermined force is applied thereto, and a temperature-responsive device positioned in the cooling chamber and operatively connected to said valve for closing and opening movement thereof for regulating the modifying action on the governor by the pressure-responsive device.

-14. For a refrigeration apparatus including a compressor, a cooling chamber, an evaporator in the cooling chamber and a gas engine drive for the compressor, said engine having a carburetor and mixture intake conduit and a speed-controlling governor, a control means comprising a iiuid'conduit communicating atone end with the mixture intake conduit and being open to substantially atmospheric pressure at its other end,

9 a metering orice in said fluid conduit, a uidpressure-responsive device communicating with said fluid conduit and having connections with the governor for modifying the action thereof, resilient means to hold the device against movenient until a predetermined force is available thereby delaying modifying action in the gover nor, a control valve in said uid conduit, and a temperature-responsive device positioned in the cooling chamber, said temperature-responsive device being operatively connected to said valve for regulating the actionon the governor by the pressure-responsive device.

15. For a refrigeration apparatus including a compressor, a cooling chamber, an evaporator in the cooling chamber and a gas engine drive for the compressor, said engine having a carburetor and mixture intake conduit and a,4 speed-controlling governor, a control means comprising a fluid conduit communicating at one end with the mixture intake conduit and being open to substantially atmospheric pressure at its other end, a metering orice in said iluid conduit, a fluidpressure-responsive device communicating with said uid conduit and connected with the governor for modifying the action thereof, a control valve in said fluid conduit, and a temperature-responsive device including a heat-responsive element located in the cooling compartment, an actuating element connected to the valve and an interconnecting communicating conduit for transmitting actuating force from the heat-responsive element to the actuating element, said heat-responsive element being provided with a heat-shielding enclosure to obtain a time delay lbetween the change in temperature of the compartment and the actuation of the valve.

16. For a refrigeration unit including a compressor, a cooling chamber, an evaporator in the cooling chamber and a gas engine drive for the compressor, said engine having a carburetor, an air cleaner, an air intake conduit leading from the carburetor to the air cleaner, a, mixture intake conduit and a speed-controlling governor, a control means comprising a temperatureresponsive device positioned in the cooling chamber, a Huidpressure-responsive device connected to the governor for modifying the action thereof, a iiuid conduit in communication with the mixture intake conduit and with the air intake conduit, said uid conduit including a metering orifice to limit the ilow of air therethrough, a second fluid conduit connecting the pressure-responsive device to the rst mentioned iuid conduit, and means operable to regulate the o'w of ain-through said first named uid conduit to control the modifying action on the governor by the pressure-responsive device. Y

1'?. For a. refrigeration unit including a compresser, a cooling chamber, an evaporator in the cooling chamber and a gas engine drive for the compressor, said engine having a. carburetor, an air cleaner, an air intake conduit between the carburetor and the air cleaner, an intake mani- `fold and a speed-controlling governor, a control means comprising atemperature responsive de-`A vice positioned in the cooling chamber, a pressureresponsive device connected to the governor for modifying the action thereof, a conduit connected at one end to the intake manifold and at its other end to the air intake conduit at a location between the carburetor and the air cleaner,v said conduit including a metering orifice to limit the flow of air therethrough, a conduit connecting the pressure-responsive device to the iirst mentioned conduit, and means operable to regulate by the temperature-r'esponsive device the ow of air through Y said rst named conduit to control action on the governor by the'pressure-responsive device, said means including a valve and a resilient detent means to hold thev valve against movement until a predetermined force is applied thereto.

18. For a refrigeration unit including a compressor, a cooling chamber, an evaporator in the cooling chamber and a gas engine drive for the compressor, said engine having a carburetor, an air cleaner, an air intake conduit connecting the carburetor and air cleaner, a mixture intake conduit and a speed-controlling governor, a control means comprising a temperature-responsive device positioned in the cooling chamber, afluid- 'pressure-responsive device connected to the governor for modifying the action thereof, a fluid conduit connected at one end to the mixture intake conduit and at its other endlto the air intake conduit at a location between the carburetor and the air cleaner, said iluid conduit including a metering orice to limit the `flow of air therethrough, a second fluid conduit connecting the pressure-responsive device to the rst mentioned fluid conduit at a location in said rst conduit between the orifice therein and the air intake end thereof, and means operable by the temperature- I responsive device to regulate the flow of air through said first named fluidconduit to control the modifying action on the governor by the pressure-responsive device.

' PHILIP E. CARY.

REFERENCES CITED The `following references are of record in the ille of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,009,659 Hill et al July 30, 1935 1,162,048 Freeman Nov. 30, 1915 

